Star-wheel mechanism for music-boxes.



. No. 657,096. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

G; DIEZEMANN. 7

STAR WHEEL MECHANISM FOR MUSIC BOXES.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

W/TNESSES A 770/?NEYfi rrn 'TATEES PATENT Erica.

GUSTAV DIEZEMANN, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO F. G: OTTO & SONS, INCORPORATED, OF JERSEY CITY, NEYV JERSEY.

STAR-WHEEL MECHANISM FOR MUSIC-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,096, dated September 4, 1900.

Application filed December 8, 1899. Serial No. 739,592. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAV DIEZEMANN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at l Ioboken, in the county of Hudsonand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Star-Wheel Elements for Music-Boxes, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to music-boxes; and the object thereof is to provide improved tension devices for the star-wheels thereof.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts as fully set forth in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which like reference characters denote like parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the star-wheel element ofa music-box constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, a section thereof on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of construction; and Fig. 4, a section thereof on the line a 4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow.

In the practice of my invention I provide, referring to Figsjl and 2, a star wheel element for music-boxes consisting, primarily, of a frame or body portion a, provided with a plurality of parallel projecting washer-like heads I), connected with the frame or body portion a by necks 1). Through the heads I) is passed a shaft 0. Upon the shaft 0 and arranged alternately with the heads I) are imposed a plurality of washers d, which preferably consist of felt or other yielding flexible substance. A spring head e, circular or approximately circular in form, is arranged upon the shaft 0 at each side of each of the washers d and between each washer and the next adjacent head I). The shaft 0 passes through all the heads 6, which heads are provided with necks f, upon the ends of which are formed recesses g. The frame or body portion Ct is provided on its inner side, between the necks b' of the heads b, with a plurality of lugs h, formed-correspondingly to the recesses g, and said lugs fit said recesses,

as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and it is evident that by means of the recesses g, the lugs h, and the necks f the spring-heads e are prevented from rotation upon the shaft 0, said shaft preventing radial movement of said heads 6, and thus maintaining said lugs 71 in operative or locked position in the recesses g. The star-wheelsj are imposed upon the shaft 0 at each side of and next adjacent each of the heads I), and the adjacent faces of the heads I) and the star-wheels are smooth and void of unnecessary frictional contact. The shaft 0 passes centrally through all of the star-wheels j.

In assembling the parts of the star-wheel element above described a group of parts, consisting of one of the Washers (1, one of the heads 6 at either side thereof, and one of the star-wheels j n'ext adjacent the heads a and so arranged that the heads 6 are interposed between the star-wheels and the washer d, is passed into each of the spaces between the several heads I), and the lugs it upon the frame a are fitted into the recesses g in the necksf. The shaft 0 is then passed through all of the heads b,washers d, heads e, and star-wheelsj.

The heads 6 are formed of spring metal, and before the several parts above described are assembled said heads e are given a slight lateral bend in such manner that after such assembling the outer portions of said heads e shall bear tensionally upon the star-wheelsj and the inner portions thereof upon the washers d.

The construction and arrangement of the parts as above described and the lateral bending of the spring-heads (2 cause atensional frictional engagement of the heads e and starwheels j, and the tension being caused by the spring-heads e, which bear upon the yielding washers d, is extremely delicate and resilient, and the star-wheels in operationare subjected to the drag of this tensional friction,which, being rudimentally metallic, is maintained constant in potential.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a modified form of construction in which the body portion or frame a, heads b, and necks b thereof, shaft 0, and star-wheels j are all constructed and arranged the same as in Figs. 1 and 2; but in lieu of the spring-heads e and necksf thereof and the felt washers d, constituting the above-described tensional friction devices, I provide a pair of spring-heads 7c and an intermediate metal washer Z. The springheads are approximately circular in form,

andtwo thereof are mounted upon the shaft 0 in each space between the plurality of heads Z), and each of said spring-heads 7t is mounted next adjacent one of the star-wheels j, and each pair of spring-heads 70 between two of the heads I) are separated by one of the metal washers Z, the grouping of the spring-heads 7s, washer Z, and star-wheels j in each of the spaces between the several heads I) being similar to that of the corresponding parts in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of the spring-heads 7c is provided with a neck m, upon the end of which is formed a recess g, in which fits a lug 7L in the inner side of the frame or body portion a in the same manner as the corresponding parts in Fig. 1. Each of the spring-heads 7c is provided at each side with a spring-tongue n, which is formed integral therewith, springing from opposite port-ions thereof adjacent its connection with the neck m and curved concentrically therewith, said tongues a be ing within a circle slightly diametrically greater than the circle defining the major portion of the outline of the spring-head 7t.

Before the parts are assembled as above described the spring-tongues n are bent laterally, so that when in the assembled position they shall engage at their outer ends with the next adjacent star-wheels j, exerting a tensional friction thereon.

I do not limit myself to the exact form and arrangement of parts above described, but reserve the right to vary the same within the scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A star-wheel element for music-boxes, comprising a frame or bodyportion provided with a plurality of projecting fixed heads, a shaft passed through said heads, a plurality of loosely-mounted star-wheels imposed upon said shaft intermediate of I said fixed heads, and a plurality of spring-heads imposed upon said shaft, two of said star-wheels being arranged in each space between the several fixed heads, and two of said spring-heads being interposed between each pair of starwheels and each laterally bent to bear thereon, substantially as shown and described.

2. A star-wheel element for music-boxes, comprising a frame or body portion provided with a plurality of projecting fixed heads, a shaft passed through said heads, a plurality of loosely-mounted star-wheels loosely imposed upon said shaft intermediate of said fixed heads, and a plurality of spring-heads imposed upon said shaft, two of said starwheels being arranged in each space between the several fixed heads, and two of said spring-heads being interposed between each pair of star-wheels and each laterally bent to bear thereon, each of said spring-heads being provided with means for connection with said frame or body portion, substantially as shown and described.

3. A star-wheel element for music-boxes, comprising a frame or body portion provided with a plurality of projecting fixed heads, a shaft passed through said heads, a plurality of loosely-mounted star-wheels imposed upon said shaft intermediate of said fixed heads, and a plurality of spring-heads imposed upon said shaft, two of said star-wheels being arranged in each space between the several fixed heads, two of said spring-heads being interposed between each pair of star-wheels and each laterally bent to bear thereon, and a felt or similar washer imposed between each two adjacent spring-heads within each of said spaces, between said fixed heads, substantially as shown and described.

at. A star-wheel element for music-boxes, comprising a frame or body portion provided with aplurality of fixed heads, a shaft passed through said heads, a plurality of star-wheels loosely mounted upon said shaft, and a plurality of spring-heads imposed upon said shaft and arranged to bear upon said starwheels, each of said spring-heads being provided with a neck in the end of which is formed a recess, said frame being provided with a plurality of lugs which fit said recesses and by means of which said heads are prevented from rotation, shown and described.

5. A star-wheel element for music-boxes, comprising a shaft, a plurality of star-wheels arranged thereon, a pair of spring-heads arranged non-rotatably upon said shaft between two of said star-wheels and bent laterally to frictionally engage said star-wheels, and a compressible washer arranged upon said shaft between said spring-heads, substantially as shown and described.

6. A star-wheel element for music-boxes, embodying a shaft, a star-wheel loosely mounted thereon, and a spring-head mounted upon said shaft and provided with a laterallybent portion which bears frictionally upon said SDflF WhOGL 7. Astar-wheel element for music-boxes, embodyingashaft,astar-wheellooselymounted thereon, a spring-head loosely mounted upon said shaft and provided with a laterallybent portion which bears frictionally upon said star-wheel and means for maintaining said spring-head in fixed position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 27th day of November, 1899.

GUSTAV DIEZEMANN.

substantially as lVitnesses:

F. A. STEW'ART, V. M. VosLER.

IIO 

